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The Monitor
Keeping the Pulse on the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps • Spring 2007
For more information about the EMSA Disaster Preparedness Division, the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps or
Regional Medical Response System, call Kendal Darby at 405-297-7055.
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
PERMIT No. 1078
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
8 1
The Monitor
Volunteers Building Strong, Healthy And Prepared Communities!
In This Spring 2007 Edition:
FRONT PAGE
President Bush Codifi es MRCs Nationwide.................................................................................................... Cover
MRC Facts ...................................................................................................................................................... Cover
SPRING STEPS
National Public Health Week.......................................................................................................................... Page 2
National Leadership & Training Conference Held in Rhode Island............................................................... Page 2
Tahlequah Teens Win State; Establishing Newest MRC Unit ....................................................................... Page 2
PARTNERSʼ POINTS
Local News from Tulsa MRC, Mayes County, Oklahoma City County Health Department......................... Page 3
CARING, CAPABLE & READY
2007 Ice Storm – MRC Battles Mother Nature ....................................................................................... Page 4 & 5
POST THIS SCHEDULE!
MRCʼs Quarterly Events & Training Calendar............................................................................................... Page 7
The MRC MONITOR is published quarterly by the
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps,
1111 Classen Drive, Oklahoma City, OK, 73103 USA.
All rights reserved.
On Tuesday, December 19, 2006, President
Bush signed S. 3678, the “Pandemic and All-
Hazards Preparedness Act,” into law (Public Law
No. 109-417). This authorizes appropriations
to improve bioterrorism and other public health
emergency planning and preparedness activities.
One significant feature of this law is that it codifies
the Medical Reserve Corps, which now operate
in all 50 states. This implies the MRC is no longer
a grant project, but that it operates as an actual
government entity.
“I will uphold the President’s mandate to focus
on increasing prevention efforts, eliminating
health disparities and improving public health
preparedness. The civilian, volunteer Medical
Reserve Corps plays a large role in helping
us to meet these national goals. Through your
contributions, we are able to strengthen the public
health infrastructure of our nation, one community
at a time,” said Kenneth P. Moritsugu, M.D.,
M.P.H., Acting United States Surgeon General.
Specifically, the law requires the HHS
Secretary to link existing state verification
systems to maintain a single national
interoperable network of systems. Each is
maintained by a state or group of states for the
purpose of verifying the credentials and licenses
of healthcare professionals who volunteer to
provide health services during a public health
emergency. It states, in part, that the Secretary
shall establish system requirements, incorporate
the memberships of MRCs, assure state access
to and confidentiality of data, and assess the
feasibility of integration with comparable systems.
It also encourages states to establish and
implement mechanisms to waive the application
of licensing requirements for volunteer health
professionals. This act also clarifies that inclusion
of an individual in the database does not
constitute an appointment as a federal employee.
In addition, it requires the HHS Secretary, in
consultation with state, local, and tribal officials,
to establish and maintain an MRC of health
professions volunteers,
and to develop an
identification card for
each member of the
MRC which describes
relevant licensure and
certification information.
And it also requires
the Secretary to
appoint a Director who will develop drills and
certification requirements which do not supersede
state requirements. It authorizes the Secretary
to appoint selected individuals to serve as
intermittent personnel of the MRC in accordance
with applicable civil service laws and regulations
and authorizes the deployment of willing MRC
members with the concurrence of the state,
local, or tribal officials from the area where the
members reside and cover appropriate expenses
that result pursuant to an assignment by the
Secretary.
The law also authorizes $22 million for FY2007
and such sums as may be necessary for FY2008-
FY2011.
Originally designed by the federal government
as a local program funded by federal grants,
Oklahoma MRC has now become a part of the
nationwide program with this law, which provides
an even stronger foundation for local communities
to expand and meet the individual needs of
their areas. MRC obligations still are to meet
volunteers’ individual needs while maintaining
consistent statewide programs; comprehensive
databases for greater volunteer accessibility,
deployment and instant information access;
and precedents for the highest standards of
excellence.
“Maximizing local preparedness remains
our first and foremost consideration,” said Mike
Murphy, Medical Response System Director
for Oklahoma MRC. “We must grow MRC’s
programs to meet volunteer needs. With this
codified status, we can streamline and augment
local administrative efforts, maximizing the
individual unit’s response capabilities.”
For more information, log on to
www.medicalreservecorps.gov
MRC FACTS
The MRC was founded after President
Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address, in which
he asked all Americans to volunteer in support of
their country. It is a partner program with Citizen
Corps, a national network of volunteers dedicated
to ensuring hometown security. Citizen Corps,
along with AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the
Peace Corps are part of the President’s USA
Freedom Corps, which promotes volunteerism
and service nationwide.
MRC units are community-based and
function as a way to locally organize and
utilize volunteers who want to donate their
time and expertise to prepare for and respond
to emergencies and promote healthy living
throughout the year. MRC volunteers supplement
existing emergency and public health resources.
MRC volunteers include medical and
public health professionals such as physicians,
nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians,
and epidemiologists. Many community
members—interpreters, chaplains, office workers,
legal advisors, and many other non-medical
individuals—fill key support positions.
The U.S. Surgeon General provides MRC
units specific areas to target that strengthen the
public health infrastructure of their communities.
These are outlined priorities for the health of
individuals, and the nation as a whole, which also
serve as a guide to the MRC. The overarching
goal is to improve health literacy, and in support
of this, the Surgeon General encourages working
toward increasing disease prevention, eliminating
health disparities, and improving public health
preparedness.
The MRC Program Office is headquartered
in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. It
functions as a clearinghouse for information and
best practices to help communities establish,
implement, and maintain MRC units nationwide.
The MRC Program Office sponsors an annual
leadership conference, hosts a Web site, and
coordinates with local, state, regional, and
national organizations and agencies to help
communities achieve their local visions for public
health and emergency preparedness.
PRESIDENT BUSH CODIFIES MRCs NATIONWIDE
Medical
Reserve Corps
The mission of the Medical Reserve
Corps (MRC) is to improve the
health and safety of communities
across the country by organizing
and utilizing public health, medical
and other volunteers.

The Monitor
Keeping the Pulse on the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps • Spring 2007
For more information about the EMSA Disaster Preparedness Division, the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps or
Regional Medical Response System, call Kendal Darby at 405-297-7055.
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
PERMIT No. 1078
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps
1111 Classen Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
8 1
The Monitor
Volunteers Building Strong, Healthy And Prepared Communities!
In This Spring 2007 Edition:
FRONT PAGE
President Bush Codifi es MRCs Nationwide.................................................................................................... Cover
MRC Facts ...................................................................................................................................................... Cover
SPRING STEPS
National Public Health Week.......................................................................................................................... Page 2
National Leadership & Training Conference Held in Rhode Island............................................................... Page 2
Tahlequah Teens Win State; Establishing Newest MRC Unit ....................................................................... Page 2
PARTNERSʼ POINTS
Local News from Tulsa MRC, Mayes County, Oklahoma City County Health Department......................... Page 3
CARING, CAPABLE & READY
2007 Ice Storm – MRC Battles Mother Nature ....................................................................................... Page 4 & 5
POST THIS SCHEDULE!
MRCʼs Quarterly Events & Training Calendar............................................................................................... Page 7
The MRC MONITOR is published quarterly by the
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps,
1111 Classen Drive, Oklahoma City, OK, 73103 USA.
All rights reserved.
On Tuesday, December 19, 2006, President
Bush signed S. 3678, the “Pandemic and All-
Hazards Preparedness Act,” into law (Public Law
No. 109-417). This authorizes appropriations
to improve bioterrorism and other public health
emergency planning and preparedness activities.
One significant feature of this law is that it codifies
the Medical Reserve Corps, which now operate
in all 50 states. This implies the MRC is no longer
a grant project, but that it operates as an actual
government entity.
“I will uphold the President’s mandate to focus
on increasing prevention efforts, eliminating
health disparities and improving public health
preparedness. The civilian, volunteer Medical
Reserve Corps plays a large role in helping
us to meet these national goals. Through your
contributions, we are able to strengthen the public
health infrastructure of our nation, one community
at a time,” said Kenneth P. Moritsugu, M.D.,
M.P.H., Acting United States Surgeon General.
Specifically, the law requires the HHS
Secretary to link existing state verification
systems to maintain a single national
interoperable network of systems. Each is
maintained by a state or group of states for the
purpose of verifying the credentials and licenses
of healthcare professionals who volunteer to
provide health services during a public health
emergency. It states, in part, that the Secretary
shall establish system requirements, incorporate
the memberships of MRCs, assure state access
to and confidentiality of data, and assess the
feasibility of integration with comparable systems.
It also encourages states to establish and
implement mechanisms to waive the application
of licensing requirements for volunteer health
professionals. This act also clarifies that inclusion
of an individual in the database does not
constitute an appointment as a federal employee.
In addition, it requires the HHS Secretary, in
consultation with state, local, and tribal officials,
to establish and maintain an MRC of health
professions volunteers,
and to develop an
identification card for
each member of the
MRC which describes
relevant licensure and
certification information.
And it also requires
the Secretary to
appoint a Director who will develop drills and
certification requirements which do not supersede
state requirements. It authorizes the Secretary
to appoint selected individuals to serve as
intermittent personnel of the MRC in accordance
with applicable civil service laws and regulations
and authorizes the deployment of willing MRC
members with the concurrence of the state,
local, or tribal officials from the area where the
members reside and cover appropriate expenses
that result pursuant to an assignment by the
Secretary.
The law also authorizes $22 million for FY2007
and such sums as may be necessary for FY2008-
FY2011.
Originally designed by the federal government
as a local program funded by federal grants,
Oklahoma MRC has now become a part of the
nationwide program with this law, which provides
an even stronger foundation for local communities
to expand and meet the individual needs of
their areas. MRC obligations still are to meet
volunteers’ individual needs while maintaining
consistent statewide programs; comprehensive
databases for greater volunteer accessibility,
deployment and instant information access;
and precedents for the highest standards of
excellence.
“Maximizing local preparedness remains
our first and foremost consideration,” said Mike
Murphy, Medical Response System Director
for Oklahoma MRC. “We must grow MRC’s
programs to meet volunteer needs. With this
codified status, we can streamline and augment
local administrative efforts, maximizing the
individual unit’s response capabilities.”
For more information, log on to
www.medicalreservecorps.gov
MRC FACTS
The MRC was founded after President
Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address, in which
he asked all Americans to volunteer in support of
their country. It is a partner program with Citizen
Corps, a national network of volunteers dedicated
to ensuring hometown security. Citizen Corps,
along with AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the
Peace Corps are part of the President’s USA
Freedom Corps, which promotes volunteerism
and service nationwide.
MRC units are community-based and
function as a way to locally organize and
utilize volunteers who want to donate their
time and expertise to prepare for and respond
to emergencies and promote healthy living
throughout the year. MRC volunteers supplement
existing emergency and public health resources.
MRC volunteers include medical and
public health professionals such as physicians,
nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians,
and epidemiologists. Many community
members—interpreters, chaplains, office workers,
legal advisors, and many other non-medical
individuals—fill key support positions.
The U.S. Surgeon General provides MRC
units specific areas to target that strengthen the
public health infrastructure of their communities.
These are outlined priorities for the health of
individuals, and the nation as a whole, which also
serve as a guide to the MRC. The overarching
goal is to improve health literacy, and in support
of this, the Surgeon General encourages working
toward increasing disease prevention, eliminating
health disparities, and improving public health
preparedness.
The MRC Program Office is headquartered
in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. It
functions as a clearinghouse for information and
best practices to help communities establish,
implement, and maintain MRC units nationwide.
The MRC Program Office sponsors an annual
leadership conference, hosts a Web site, and
coordinates with local, state, regional, and
national organizations and agencies to help
communities achieve their local visions for public
health and emergency preparedness.
PRESIDENT BUSH CODIFIES MRCs NATIONWIDE
Medical
Reserve Corps
The mission of the Medical Reserve
Corps (MRC) is to improve the
health and safety of communities
across the country by organizing
and utilizing public health, medical
and other volunteers.